Manning’s love of cinema transcends genre, culture and language. 

Film, television, music and pop culture journalist since 1989. Member of the Critics’ Choice Association, Online Film and Television Association, Southeastern Film Critics Association, and the NC Film Critics Association. Manning is co-founder of the Real to Reel Film Fest (one of the longest running in the Carolinas since 2000), and host for entertainment shows for TV, radio and online audiences. Manning has over two-decades of experience as an adjunct professor of film, communications & new media studies. 

Manning worked on the Oscar-winner Last of the Mohicans; he’s produced award-winning documentaries including one on independent filmmaker Earl Owensby, and he’s served as a consultant for indie filmmakers and film fests since 1998. He currently hosts the weekly TV and radio show Meet Me at the Movies, and Screen Scene (on NPR affiliate WNCW). Manning also interviews filmmakers, visual artists and entertainers on a regular basis. 

Manning has served on the nominating committee for the Critics Choice Documentary Awards, the Critics Choice Television Awards and has spent time on the North Carolina Film Critics Governing committee. He’s worked several years with the Arts and Faith Ecumenical Film Jury, and is a contributing partner to Elements of Madness. 

His favorite goof-out celebrity experience was mugging it up with Oscar-winner Taika Waititi at a Critics Choice Awards ceremony.